I had a telephone appointment with my GP today who had recieved a letter from my endo suggesting he thinks i have PMR. I have an appointent to see my GP next week and she is going to start me on steroids. She said there is alot to go though in the appointment...not sure what that is. I think she said i would be taking 4 tiny tablets a day but i could be mistaken as to what she said.

Hi, yes the thought of steroids is scary, but if you really do have PMR then they are the only thing that is going to control it. A few days on the tablets will confirm if you have PMR, your pain will decrease considerably. However, that's not to say you will have a miracle cure, and you will probably suffer from some side effects. But not taking steroids is not an option I'm afraid. Sorry!

Your endo obviously thought your symptoms were consistent with PMR, so hopefully the steroids will clarify it one way or the other. Unfortunately

I was undiagnosed for 18 months, so probably not the best to give advice. By that time I had definitely progressed to GCA. Not sure whether I had PMR to start with or went straight into GCA. Nobody has ever confirmed either way. Whatever, I certainly had aching shoulders and extreme fatigue as you describe before I started Pred.

As everyone says if it is PMR when you take the steroids it is like a miracle, I still think back and cannot believe it happened. I was on 20mg starting dose coated 5mg tablets. In my case I don't think I could have waited another week I was in such agony. It sounds like your GP might give you some advice if she thinks there is a lot to go through which sounds good news. I was told nothing. Just take the tablets and you will be running marathons next week. Ho ho ho.